Add a search box to your site

A search box lets visitors type a word and jump to the page that mentions it. It searches the pages of your own site, not the whole web.

Add the box

1. Open the page where you want the box, such as your header or a page called Search.
2. Click Insert and choose Search.
3. Click the box on the canvas to change its placeholder text, its label and how many results it shows (from 3 to 20).
4. Press Publish.

The box works on your published site. In the editor it only shows how it will look.

What visitors see

As they type, matching pages appear right under the box, best match first. Each result shows the page title and a short piece of text from the page. They can use the arrow keys and Enter, or click a result. If nothing matches, the box says so.

What it searches

• The title, the description and the text on each page.
• Pages in the same language as the page the visitor is on. Each language has its own search.
• Your pages, your blog posts and your shop products. A post or product shows a small label after its title, such as Post or Product.
• Posts and products are searched from a box on a page in your main language.

A new page shows up in search after your next publish. A new post or product shows up within a few minutes of being published.

Leave a page out

Every page is included unless you switch it off.

1. Open Site settings and choose the page under Page settings.
2. Turn off Site search.
3. Press Publish.

You can also use Hide from site search in the SEO panel. A page that is hidden from search engines, and a page for members only, is always left out of site search.

To leave a whole blog or shop out, pick its row under Page settings (it is shown as its folder, such as /blog/*) and turn off Site search. A members-only collection is always left out.

Link to a ready search

Add ?cm_q= and a word to the address of any page that has a search box, such as /help?cm_q=invoice. The page opens with the box filled in and the results showing. Use it in a menu, a button or an email.

Common questions

Is there a cost? No. The search box is on every plan and costs no credits.

A new post or product does not show up. Posts and products appear in search within a few minutes of being published. A removed one disappears the same way. New pages appear after your next publish.

The box says search is not available. Publish the site once after adding the box. The search list is created when you publish.

Can I put more than one box on a page? Yes. They all search the same pages.